Prerinsing apparatus for container washers



Dec. 14, 1948. E R. ALLING ET AL 2,456,040

F-RERINSING APPARATUS FOR CONTAINER WASHERS I Original Filed April 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec; 14, 1 948. E R. ALLlNG ET AL I 2,456,040

PRERINSING APPARATUS FOR CONTAINER WASHERS Original Filed April 25, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Inv enfar Dec. 14, 1948. 4 E R. ALLING ET AL 2,456,040

PRERINSING APPARATUS FOR CONTAINER wAsHERs Original Filed April 25, 1941 3 Shets-Sheet :5

. tion.

Patented Dec. 14, 1948 PRERINSING APPARATUS FOR CONTAINER WASHERS E. Roy Alling, Kenmore, and John C. Knepflar,

Tonawanda, N.

Rice and Adams Corporation,

Y., said Knepflar assignor to Tonawanda,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Original application 390,400. Divided an April 25, 194.1, now Patent No. 2,376,140 of March An object of this invention is to improve washers of this type, and particularly to improve the pre-rinsing of the containers in a manner such I that contamination, by dilution of the soaking solution will be substantially reduced, and which will be effective, simple, and economical in opera- Another object of the invention is to provide an improved washer for containers in which the containers are subjected to a pre-rinse prior to soaking in a washing liquid, with which the dilution of said washing liquid by the liqud of the prerinse will be prevented in a simple and eiiective manner, without material deviation from eral design of the washers heretofore used, with which the pre-rinse of the containers may be effectively performed after the containers have been loaded into the pockets of an endless conveyor, and with which the pre-rinse, liquid delivered to any empty pocket will be collected in a simple and practical manner without annoyance to the attendant and without deluging any substantial part of the apparatus with the pre-rinse liquid.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connec tion with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a bottle washer constructed in accordance with this invention, with certain parts indicated only diagrammatically, and other parts not immediately concerned with this invention omitted in the interest of clarity.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation through the loading and delivery end of the same,

with the parts in the positions occupied when the conveyor is at the end of one of its step by step movements;

Fig.- 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with the parts in positions occupied during a pre-rinse operation while the conveyor. is in one of its intervals of rest;and i Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 4--4 of Fig 2.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention,

the gen- April 25, 1941, Serial No.

d this application June 15, 1944, Serial No. 540,879

12 Claims. (01. 134-131) the washer may be of any suitable type such as one in which an endless flexible conveyor I (Fig. 1) is conducted in a closed loop path through a housing 2, this conveyor being shown somewhat diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by the dash lines separated by small circles. Washers using endless chains or conveyors of this type are common in the art. These conveyors or chains are provided with a plurality of pockets 3, Fig 2, which are supported on the conveyor in horizontal rows extending crosswise of the direction of travel of the conveyor, and these rows are spaced apart and arranged in succession along the conveyor in the direction of movement of the conveyor. The bottles or containers to be washed are loaded into the pockets 3 and unloaded therefrom at the same end of the machine, and for this purpose it is customary to have a somewhat reverse bend in the path of travel of the pockets and conveyor at the end where the loading and unloading of the bottles or containers takes place.

At this loading; and unloading end of the Washer, the pockets 3 descend downwardly in a vertical direction into. the soaking tank or chamber 4 in which .tank the bottles or containers are moved horizontally while in an upright or upstanding position. This tank 4 is provided with a cover 5 which terminates at one end in spaced relation to the end of the tank through which the bottles descend into the liquid, and this end of the cover is flanged upwardly as at 6 along the vertical path of travel of the conveyor as the conveyor moves downwardly into or enters the soaker tank 4. It will be observed that the pockets, in descending through unloading position, are moving vertically, but out of alignment with the passage leading into the soaker tank 4, and then the conveyor and pockets move in an inclined direction for some distance until the pockets become aligned with the opening into the tank 4 at one end of the cover 5, and then the conveyor moves downwardly through the opening at one end of the cover into the tank 4. The conveyor is guided by channel guides l at opposite sides of the housing, and has rollers B which run in the channels of the guides 1 so that the conveyor will move through a path determined by the shape of the channel guides 1.

The conveyor is preferably made of connected links forming 2 chains, one at each side of the housing disposed along the inside wall, which chains have corresponding links connected together from side to side by members carrying therein the pockets of a row, all of which is well known in the art. After the pockets enter the 3:01: a. lever; 35.

3 tank 4, they are moved through an arcuate path into a position parallel to the bottom of the tank, and the engagement of the bottom ends of the bottles-oreontainers with thQHbOtBOII-L-Ofithe tank prevents .them bottles-.pr containers. from falling out of the pockets during their travel through the soaker tank 4.

The conveyor is advanced step by step, with intervals of rest between theincrements -of=mv8- ment, by any suitable mechanism, and in"the' particular example illustrated,.this advancement of the conveyor is obtained-qbyloperationiotaspair of pawls 9 (Fig. 1), onersonweach:.side. ofiithe machine and engageable with the links of the chain, at the adjacent side of...the housing, as usual in this type of device.

Each pawl 9 is pivoted at H] to an arm I I, which is fixed on a shaft I2 that extends crosswise of the housing at the top row. The shaft li is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings I3 dis- :zposedz at';the..-top *o. thei'housing; "and. an -a-rm l 4 twist fixedvon'ithe: shaft 8: atom :end thereof,=.-which i-Yhappens toube atItheiSidQL-Of. the housing opposite :the-Js'ide shownin-'*Eig.z .1. The :free end: of the -.:-arm 514515 pivotally connected at 15 110 one en'd of alink 1i 6,- and ithe latter includes therein between nitsaendse a lostimotiomand: safety slip connection -11; of=.:any:-.suitabler'itype. LAT, itsother end, the iilinlc l1 iswoonnectedtto ithe free end of a crank armf 1-18;';which =.is'-; fixedron: a shaft i 9 "that also extends icrosswise :ofz=1the housing f'rom l side to side .and .giS :mountedflfor rotation ';in-- suitable zz-bearingszprovidem omtherhousing.

'rThe-shaft t9: atroneaend there'ofli'which-is the 10* more complete description on the unloading mechanismwill/be found in said parent applica- ,tion above identified.

:-.Also. fixed on'the shaft 36 within and adjacent ropposite sidesxofithe housing, are two arms 45 havingslots .46 at their free ends, (Figs 2 and 3) which.receive pinsfi'l carried by the depending rarmsu48..that arezfixed on an auxiliary shaft 49. This shaft (Fig. 4.) is rotatab1y mounted in bear- "ingsfifl provided on the side walls of the housing 0 and also carries depending arms 5! which are connected to armS-FEZz -(Figa .4)r2that;:extend1upwardly l from a" drinplate'ji. eBolts' M'Jclampctogether in a pin-rand-sl'otz manner the. arms 5i and. 52iwh'ere uth:ey. overrun .each' anther, so: .;that. by :loosening 5 the-=bolts'-- 54; a one .may raise and lowerc'ithe- .drip

plate 53 to a limited extent allowed byg thegpin and slotoonnection. L'This idripzplatee'extends #away dnorri the armsfiltso that when the arms 5| are swung clockwisewin Fi-gs. ziand 3; .rthea edge. of

301thedripfiplate 53Which is furthest from ithe. arms endshownrimEist 1;:carries. a ear mwhich meshes with and :is. driveri' -by :aspeed reductionmechanism of .anys'uitable type enclosed-ma housing '2 I .Thds; speed reductionimechanism is in turn driven t-rby; a;:pulley..2 2;. anchthisi pully. 2 2 in turnis driven a by a:.1beltz3uwhich:nperates over and -:is driven by anothers-pulleyfikthat is 'ifixed on a'motor zshaftzzzZ 5 of: a: suitable felectrica: motor M. -"-Ihis n motor serveszns .aosource i bf- -power for operating 73.13116"- conveyor rin a :asstep by: step movementwith intervals) of' re'st :asuwiell asvopera'ting the mechan-ismsfor. loading. and-.unloading the containers and performing other iuncz'tiuns a which will be exizplainedherein :later. The belt '23 -:is-ti'ghtened or .zrinosenedi by.:a1pulieyt2 fi whi ch is shiftedinto and :out: of:tightening:relation in order to cause or irinterrupt the: driving connection between the :"motonMancbpulley-22.

s2.Also.fixed:on: the shafti I 9 (Fig: '1 is a cam- 2 I, .B-Ilda a roller 2 8 whichds pivota-ll mounted-on an a:arm2.9;.rollsalong:the peripheral edge-ofthe-caminected to a suitable-source:ofrinsing' liquid such 2 T. The :KOHBIIiZ 8 :is:mcunted onthe arm 2 9' intermediate-the .endsx'oizithe'latter, and' this a-rm -29 s xism-voted: at its :lower endon a-pin 30 provided in a.a.:suitable: supportl3 i and the other or upper end of the.armi29 fistpivotallyconnected by a pin 32 to mne-zend, otailink: 33;:theothar end of said link hbeing pivotallyconnected by a'pin 34toonearm t-This. lever-=is fixed on a shaft36 m'vhich extends'crosswise of "t e-housing" 2 from side rte-Aside. and is motatably supported ins-uitable beanings 37 .(Fig: 4)-car ried by the housing." The lower mendiof. the lever is-connected by a linle=38'(Fig.

1) to mechanisim for loadingthe-cont'ainers or .1:-.bbttles:-int0 thepockets'through the use of-pusher :.-.arms 39'1(Fig.-'3) that are moved-toward the-con- :veyor v,bythe l'inki38iin aa-manner disclosed in the above :identified; parent: application. Thei -bottles or containers are guidedttocthelpo ckets by guides :[40- ;('F;tig;-. 3) wand; therpnsherrzarms; .39 smoveflthe (bottles. along. :the .guidesrun, until .the ibottlesare v 5| will be swung from thezretraetedi position shown in Fig.2 into'fthe effectiveipositionashown in Fig: 3 which is just below the pocket then in loading position. I Therspace .between i-adja-centiurows of 5 tpochets :enables the".dllfllflfiitftO'fHlOVfi beneath the rowthenvin loading position. 'iThisdripzplate 5x53 :when-in eifectivepositionthus extends pastthe i tank 4, .and=ris;.inc'1ined downwardly. to .rthe'ri'g t 40 -so1i that any .drip" from ithe bottlescora containers :ini' the loadingnposition fin: 'the oonveyor. xwill'r. be -deflecte'd"overeuponitheutop of the covert- 5 and twill nottpassfdirectly into the tanle 4. ".zWhen the dripnlplate isin the-iposition shown in Fig; 2;.it is wentirely withdrawn 'from' beneath the a pocket 3 K1 then in-loading position so that the conveyor may move for-wardlya step w-ithoutinterference by the drip 1 .plate.

.HA zipipe uifi extends: across trie -interior bf :the

" housing just above the drip plate 53, and in align- -:ment with the 'lowenendof the pocketsof therow 5 then-*int 1oading positiom andis 'provided with wispray :IlOZZlES orr-xorificesfidirected towards the pockets 1 in loading position. 7 The -pipe :isconas, for example'yto adomestio water system, under -i 'the control of a suitable valve not shown, and Jthefiliqu'id er -water dis charged"from the nozzles ofJpipe'iS 5: willbe direct-ed intothe pockets" in loadkeGO i-ilig *--positi0n= and 1 into "the interior of the bottles ror containers that are disposed in the pockets while in loading position. These-sma1l streams ofrinsing l-iqu id will thus" rinse out the interiors of the :b'o'ttles '-in*loa'ding: po's'tion th-en 'in the pockets of ithe conveyoit while the open ends of .the'.=--.bottles:areidnciined downwardly. "This-"will flush out much loose foreign matter 'in the'bottles, -and such 'for eign"matter witlf the rinse" liquid is directed overupon the top of the cover 5"away F170. from the opening end of the tank" 4, and'th-eri-is removed from the top of the cover by a -suitable drain fifi wig. 2)

An arniS'ITFigs 2, 3 and 4)-=is fixed on theshaft 36 withinthe houSing- Z-but adjacent "one-"wall of standing flange 65.

clined or flat portion of of this arm 51 has an arcuate periphery 58. A strap 59'issecured at 60 to the upper end of the arcuate surface 58 and descends along this arcuweight 51 into the position shown in Fig. 2, but

when a dwell in the periphery of the cam 21 is engaged by the roller 28, the arm 29 will be rocked counterclockwise in Fig. 1 by the action of this weight 6! (Figs. 2 to 4), and this will shift the drip plate 53 into a position beneath the pockets then in loading position, that is, between adjacent rows of pockets as shown in Fig. 3.

Thus we have a situation where the weight yieldingly moves the drip plate into its position between adjacent rows of pockets, and if an effort should be made to move the drip plate into its drip receiving position shown in Fig. 3, when pockets are not properly aligned with the loading position, the drip plate would merely engage against the ends of the pockets and no breakage would result. Since the cam 21 (Fig. 1) is fixed on a shaft which operates the conveyor advancing pawls 9, the cam will always push aside the roller 28 into the position shown in Fig. 1, beforea movement of the conveyor is initiated by the pawls 9. The cam 21 holds roller 28 in this position during the interval in the cycle of movement during which the conveyor is advanced, and this will hold the weight 6| elevated, and the drip plate 53 out of a position between adjacent rows or pockets. This provides a positive action in removing the drip plate from between adjacent rows of pockets, and a yielding movement of the drip pl-ate back into a position between adjacent rows of pockets.

A baffle 62 is disposed in alignment with the axes extendedof pockets in loading position at any time and above the guide by which the containers or bottles are discharged into the pockets in loading position, so that if all of the pockets in loading positionare not filled with bottles, the streams of rinsing liquid which are directed into those pockets will be caught by the bafile 62 instead of spraying the entire front of the machine and the attendant. This baffle 62 has a generally flat portion disposed obliquely to and across the axis extensions of the pockets in loading position, with the edge of the battle that is nearest the conveyor disposed in close proximity to and slightly above the-upper edges of the pockets of the row that is then in loading position. This flat portion of the baffle is inclined upwardly in a direction away from the conveyor, and at its edge fiarthest from the convey-or is curved downwardly as at 63 and then toward the conveyor approximately horizontally as at 64, the extreme free edge of the portion 64 being provided with an up- The pan formed of the curved portion 63, the flat portion 64, and flange 65 is closed at its ends to form a shallow liquid receiving pan.

The flange 65 is'disposed below and spaced from the axes of the pockets then in loading position, so that the liquid discharged by the spray nozzles on the pipe 55 into the pockets in loading position, if not intercepted by a bottle in a pocket, will pass above the flange 65 and against the inthe baffie and pass along .the chute or guide 68 (Fig. 3) into a cradle 69,

which is then raised into the position shownin Fig. 2. The details of the mechanism 61 will be found, described and. illustrated in our said copending application No. 390,400.

It is believed that the operation of this device will be clear from the foregoing description, but will be briefly summarized.

, With the motor M operating, the idler pulley .26 is moved into 'a position to tighten the belt 23,

and the motion of the motor is then transmitted through the reduction mechanism 2| to the gear '20. l The crank arm l8 fixed on the shaft of gear 20 operates through the link l6, arm 14, shaft l2, arms H and pawls 9 to move the conveyor forwardly one step or through a given increment of movement, and, while the pawls are being retracted, there is an interval of rest during which the various cleaning operation actions may take place. Rotating with the gear 20 is the cam 21, which holds the roller 28 furthest away from the shaft l9,while the chain or conveyor is being advanced, and which has a dwell portion which releases the roller 28 during the interval of rest of the conveyor. When the arm 29 is cammed aside, as shown in the full line position in Fig. 1, it acts through the link 33, lever 35, and shaft 36 to rock the arm 45 clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 2, which through the arms 48 and 5| will retract the drip plate 53 from between the rows of pockets. When the roller 28 is released by the dwell in the cam, the weight 6| will rock the arm 51 counterclockwise and impart a similar movement to the shaft 36, as rapidly as the dwell of the cam releases roller 28, and this causes a shifting of drip plate 53 into the position shown in Fig. 3, so that the drip plate will deflect upon the cover 5 and run oif any drippings from the bottles'in loading position, and which are being subjected to a liquid sprayed from the nozzles provided on the pipe 55. i

If for any reason the pockets should not be fully aligned with the spray pipe 55 duringthe interval of rest, the drip plate 53 may engage against the edge of the row of pockets and will remain there until the cam again moves the drip plate positively out of the pathof the pockets of the conveyor. Thus we have positive removal of the drip plate from between the rows of pockets, and a yielding force tending to insert by the arcuate portion 63 as one edge, the flat portion 64 as the bottom, and the flange 65 as the other edge. It will be understood that the ends of the pan formed in this manner will be closed and the liquid will drain off through the pipe 66.

It will be understood that various changes in sarcoma-o 7. .adetails rand-1 :antangementsof parts,:=., which have "been: herein: described: andizillust-rated in order to aexplainfthe mature of the invention; may be made by those l skilled fin'i iihbnalt :within :the principle and scope-f the inventionras expressed .in:.the appended claims; a

1. A Washer for containers comprisingc-azflexible conveyor moving in a selected path: and :having a plurality 'of 'container'treceiving pockets asunported .thereon: for movementrztherewith-inr successionzalong saidrpathgleach of said pocketsr'havingran'open end through which "the container is moved :into the pocket 'and' -through which they :are ilater *dischargedisaidconveyor in one portion of saidrzpath being guided downwardly at an-zin clination to bothLtliex vertical and horizontal, 'wit'hl'the pockets xinssaidiportion inclined upwardly toward the open "endjmeans' fort -delivering the containers into saidipockets inusuccession while in saidlportionwof the path, sprayiimeans disposed adjacent the lower: ends of tsaidipockets, whiletin an inclined "position in .saidportionrof themathpfor directing upwardly into said ipockets 'inxsuocessiona .zstream :of rinsingr'liquid; a tank belowsaid' inclined portion .andwint'o which the conveyor ides-cends after leaving saidtportion .of the path, means ior advan'cing the conveyor step by step 'witlrintervals of rest betwe'en'themove- .ments ior 'positioningthe pockets in succession iniront 'of said spray means;aa drainipan'ishiftable between one position beneath the lowers end of a pocket-aligned with vsaid spraymeans-sin which'it'receives and divertssaway from-said tank thedr'ip fromany container. in a pocket aligned with said .spray-means, and. another position" in whichiit clears said pockets during their. advance, and a connection'fr'om said pan. tosaid conveyor advancing. meansffor moving said pan into "said one 'positionat the :beginning'of :each of said rest intervals and moving it from 'thatposition tosaid another :posit-ton at the end: of that interval-.:

'2.'A washer forcontainerscomprising afiexible conveyortmoving m a -sele'cted-pathrand having a plurality of container receiving .pocketssupported thereon for movement therewith inosuccession along said path, each of said 'ipockets having an open end through which the "containerwis moved into the pocket and through which they are later discharged, 5 said conveyor in one portion 'of said path being guided downwardly 'atl aninclination toboth the vertical and horizontal, withi the pockets in said portion inclined upwardly toward the open lend,imeans :fordelivering the containers izito saidfpockets in succession *while' in *saidipore "of the :path-,:spray means disposed adjacent :the lower ends oi 1' said pockets, while finned-in:- clined "position lin'xsaid' portion of the :path, ior directing upwardly 'intosaid :pockets llIlFLSUCCES- :sion:.:a:stream oof rinsing liquid; a 'tank' below'said inclined portionfland into' which thes'conveyor descends after leaving said :por-tion 1of- 3 the path,

means. for advancingrthe --conveyorstep by' step W'l l'thintGYVflllSuDf rest between" the movements or positioning-thepockets "in succession front iof said: sp ayl means, awdrain zoanrshirtable between one position :benea'th' thc lower end of a=pocket aligned with'said spray-means inwhich'itreceives and diverts away 'from" said tanks-the *drip from any container in a pocketaligned:withzsaid spray means, and another positionrin-'which' itclears said pockets dUri-ng their. advance, and aeconnecrtion irom' said-:pan to said conveyor advancing means for moving, saidzpanrintosaidione position at thebeginning of each of'saidrest intervalszand movingltfromthat position tosaid-canotherpositi'u'matath-e fend :of that interval,.and a-shield disposeddnralignment with the longitudinal axis of any pocket whichis idisposedat anyrt-imcin alignment with said spray --means for receiving and collecting the stream passing through a :pocket with the :container therein, said shield having a rooiportion to intercept the stream anddeflect itelaterally, and another portion depending'below the roof portionr fon collecting the deflectedspray andtconductingit to .a-drainu 3. A washer .f or zcontainers comprising a tank having ,a coverwith an opening, atfiexible conveyor, means guidingsaidconveyor for movement imauselected path in which the conveyor moves downwardly over saidtank out of alignment with saidflopening then atanlincline into alignment withsaidopening, then downwardly through said opening into said tank, andythen approximately horizontally ,in. said tank beneath said coverysaid conveyor having means to receive and carry'containers to .be cleaned andtwhich (containers are moved endwise of themse1ves;-.open endvfirst, and normal to-theconveyor direction :of travel-When beingsengaged. by said receiving means, arspray device disposed above the tank andadirecting'a rinseliquid intocontainers aligned therewith with their open ends lowermost while in :theiinclined portion of .the path; a deflector mounted for movement into and out of .a position betweenadjacent container receiving means and below a container then :in alignment with 'the spray 'device, means 'for moving saidconveyor step bystep, with intervals of, rest between movements, and an operating connection between said [deflector and said .conveyormoving ,means and im'ov-ing said deflector between vcontainers at the-'begim ning of .each rest interval andremovingjlt from that position at the end of that interval, whereby the "deflectorwill clear said conveyor during-intervals when the-conveyor is moving.

4. In a container washer of the-.typehavingan endless :conveyorwith pocketswarranged-in succession along its length in which pockets :the containers may be loaded, means for moving the conveyor step by step with ,an interval of .rest between steps, torcause-the containers -to:descend insuccession into and move through a soaking tank andin which-the containers, after loading, are heldw-in positions withtheir'open ends lowermost in a position over thetank, and pre-rinsed by a spray directed'upwardly into them, that immovement which comprises a deflector shiftable into and outof a 'positiontbeneath the lower, open endsof said containers whenin pre-rinsi-ng position, and between successive pockets along the said conve y9r,- "whereby :the drain from said con.- tainerswill be caught and held from entryyinto said soaking tank,-. and connections between said deflectorand said conveyor :movin-g means for causing a movement of the deflectortinto said position at the beginning of each restinterval and removing it near the end of:t-hat period, whereby said deflector will be out. of said position during the intervals in: which the conveyor is moving.

5.:In a=container washerlof the type having an endless conveyor with pockets arranged in succession along its length inwhich pockets the containers may-be loadedpmeans for movingthe conveyor step by step-with 'intervalrof rest-abetween .isteps, .tocause :the containers to descend in'zsuccession intoand move through-a soaking tank, and.'in1 which the containers, after "loading, are held in: positions with their open ends lowermost in aposition over the tank; and pro-rinsed by a spray directed upwardly into them, that improvement which' co'mprises adeflector shiftable into and out of a position beneath the lower,

into said soaking tank, a'cam operated in syn chronism with the conveyor moving means, a follower operated in one direction by said cam, aconnection from said follower to said deflector for positively moving and holding said deflector out of said position between adjacent pockets along said conveyor when the cam positively moves the follower just before the intervalwhen the conveyor is being operated and releasing it for movement into said position at the end of each movement' of the conveyor, and means yieldingl'yurging said deflector into said position so that when said follower is released by said cam, during an interval of rest, "said deflector will be urged into said position. l J.

6. In a container washer of the type having an endless conveyor with pockets arranged in-succ'ession along its length, means for moving the conveyor step by. step with intervals of rest be tween steps, the pockets receiving containers to be washed and holding them in a position with their open ends downwardly inclined in at least one of said intervals of rest of said conveyor, and a prerinse device disposed adjacent to the pockets at said one position and discharging a rinsing liquid upwardly into the pockets insaid position in a direction lengthwise of those pockets, that improvement which comprises a baffle element having a substantial, generally flat area disposed obliquely across the extended axes of the pockets when in said position, so that when'no container is in a pocket in that position,the liquid discharged into that pocket-will engage the oblique portion of said baffle and pass along it in a direc tion away from the conveyor, said baffie having a downward turn at its edge furthest from the conveyor, then a portion extending toward the conveyor and having at its free end an upstanding portion to form a receiving space in which the liquid driven along the oblique area will be collected.

7. A container washer having an endless conveyor with pockets arranged in succession along its length, means for moving said conveyor step by step with intervals of rest between steps of movement, a soaking tank having an upwardly opening entrance through which said conveyor travels downwardly into the tank, with the conveyor moving in an inclined direction as it approaches said entrance, whereby containers loaded into said pockets for descent into said tank will be held in inclined positions with their open ends lowermost in at least one period of rest in said inclined movement above the entrance to said tank, means for directing a rinsing liquid endwise into said pockets from the lower ends in one of said periods of rest in said inclined path of travel, a member shiftable into and out of a position between rows of pockets and beneath the open lower ends of the pockets in alignment with said pre-rinsing mechanism at any time, and connections between said conveyor moving means and said member for positively shifting said member out of its position between pockets at the end of each rest period, and for releasing it at the end of each interval of movement of said conveyor, and means yieldingly urging said member into 10 said position between pockets when released by said conveyor moving means.

8. A container washer having an endless conveyor with pockets arranged in succession along its length, means for moving said conveyor step by step with intervals of rest between step-s of movement, means for guiding said conveyor in a selected path which includes a zone in which the pockets are downwardly inclined with their open ends, through which the containers are inserted or removed, uppermost, spray means disposed in alignment with, and in proximity to, the lower ends of the pockets when in one period of rest in said one zone, for directing a rinsing liquid into the pockets in a direction lengthwise of the pockets aligned therewith, a member shiftable into and out of a position to receive the liquid discharge from containers being rinsed while in alignment with said spray means, and means controlled'in synchronism with said conveyor moving means for causing movement of said receiving member into a position between successive pockets, and at the lower ends of the pockets aligned with said rinsing means, at the end of each period of movement of the conveyor, and

for removing it from and holding it out of the path of the pockets at the end of each period of rest before the conveyor moves to a substantial extent.

. 9. A container washer having an endless conveyor with pockets arranged in succession along its length, means for moving said conveyor step by step with intervals of rest between steps of movement, means for guiding said conveyor in a selected path-which includes a zone in which the pockets are downwardly inclined with their open ends, through which the containers are inserted or removed, uppermost, spray means disposed'in alignment with, and in proximity to, the lower ends of the pockets when in one period of rest in saidone zone, for directing a rinsing liquidinto the pockets in a direction lengthwise of the pockets aligned therewith, a baflle element disposed obliquely across the axis of the pockets aligned with said spray means, at the opposite ends of the pockets from the spray means, for intercepting any stream of rinsing liquid discharged by said sp-ray means and which is not intercepted by a container in each pocket into which the streams are discharged, said baflle element having its remote edge extending downwardly and formed to collect and receive the film of liquid impinging on the under face of said bafile element and moving along the same to the downwardly extending portion.

10. A washer comprising a tank, an endless conveyor with pockets disposed crosswise of the length of the conveyor and arranged in succession along its length, means guiding said conveyor in a selected path downwardly into said tank includin an inclined part in which the ends of the pockets through which containers are inserted and removed are uppermost when the conveyor is in said inclined part, so that containers in said pockets will be held in an inclined position with their open ends higher, means for moving said conveyor step by step with intervals of rest between increments of movement, a spray device disposed adjacent the lower ends of the pockets at said inclined part when the conveyor is in one of its positions of rest between movements, and directing a rinsing liquid into the pockets alignedtherewith upwardly and in a direction lengthwise of the pockets, and a member disposed adjacent and spaced from the upper ends of the pocketsalignedwith the spray device .and havinga wall extending obliquely across the-axes of the pockets aligned" with the spray device; and .atits edgeufurthest. from the conveyor: carrying: a receptacle into-which the liquid striking the oblique wallwill be carriedlby inertia=and collected.

11. .A washer'comprisinga tank, an endless conveyor with pockets disposed-crosswise.ofethe lengthsof the: conveyor anduarranged inzsucces- Sion-along its. length, means guiding saidconveyor in a selected path downwardly: into: said tank including an inclined "part in which: the ends of the pockets through which. containers; are inserted: and removed are uppermost when the conveyor is: in. said inclined part; so that :containers in said pockets will be held-in aninclined position: with their open: ends highenmeans for movingsaid conveyorrstep by step-with intervals of rest between increments of movement, a spray device disposed adjacent thelowerends. of=ithe pockets atsaid inclined part-when the conveyor is in one of its. positions of rest betweennmovements,.:and1 directing a rinsing liquid into; the pockets aligned therewith upwardlyrand' .inza

direction lengthwise" of. the pockets, a. collectingelement .idi SDOSBd adjacent the spray device? and shiftable into: and out of-a position to collect. the rinse liquid draining from containers in said pockets aligned with said spray device, means yieldingly iurging saidelement into; :said position, andJmeans-operated insynchronism with the movement of thecon-veyor for positively retracting saidelement from the path of said pockets andvholding it-retracted at the end of each-period of rest of the conveyonand thenreleasing-itat.

the-endof each. period of movement: of the conveyor.

1 12;:A-washer comprising a tank; anr end l veyor' with pockets disposed crosswise of the length-of the conveyor andarranged-in: succesl sion along its length means guiding said'conlveyor in a" selected path downwardly into'said tank including an. inclined partinwhich theends of the pockets through which containers are? inserted and removed are uppermost Wherr -the; conveyor is in said inclined'part, so that containers in said therewith' npwardlyand inia dir-ectinn lengthwise at the pockets-,1: a' member disposed .adjacentand' spacedfromithe upper ends of; the pockets; aligned with therspray device andhaving aiwall extending obliquelya across the axes "of; the pockets aligned with the spray device, and; at" its edge: furthest from therconveyor carrying :az'receptacle into whichthe liquid striking the ohliquexwall wilhbe.

carried by inertia" and"co1lected,:la-'; collecting; element-disposed adjacent the; spray device and shiftable intoland: out: of a; position to collect. .the rinseliquid-draining. from 1 containers in .zsaid pockets aligned with said spray :device, r means yieldingly :urging saidelement :into said :position,

and means operated in synchronismiwith: the movement? ofithe conveyor fcr positiveiy retracting; said element fromthe paithiofisaiipocketsiat the: end: ofeacln rest period.:.ofirthe.i conyeyonand holding; it: retracted- :during the. pefriod'ewhi'le the conveyomisvmoving; and then: meleasingziti at the end of: each moving; period? of. thecnnveyor.

ROY ALLING. -JGH'N C.

.' :REFERENCES CITED :The following: references' are of record in the file of "this patent:

" 'UN'ITED'JSTATESlPATENTS Number Name Date 14,169,809 Hauk' v- Feb. I, 1916 1-,825 ,7 18 aDufiord Y L'O'ct. i 6; 1931 1,831,351 Hippenmeyer 'Nov. 10, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number .Country Date i 514,117 vGreat:Britain ';O'ct. 31,1939 

